Days Park

Between Allen and Cottage Streets
Buffalo, NY

Submitted by: mary simpson

A historic urban gem restored by the efforts of local neighborhood.

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Why It Works

This tiny greenspace, surrounded by homes built in the 19th century, was restored in the 1990s through the efforts of the neighborhood to its 19th century charm. The center of the park is graced by a wrought-iron Victorian fountain, the east end by four new flower beds filled with daylilies, woodruff and other flowers, and the west end by a bermed area with a tree-shaded garden. Historic street lights create an inviting and safe environment even at night.

What Makes Days Park a Great Place?

Days Park is accessible on foot and bicycle from both Allen and Cottage Streets. It is a cul-de-sac with only pedestrian/bicycle access from Allen Street, Allentown’s major commercial street. The sidewalks are tree-lined. The park’s inviting lawn creates a vista from Allen Street, visually connecting it to Cottage Street at the other end.

Days Park projects a long sweep of green, with mature oak and maple trees when you stand at the Allen Street end. The splash and gurgle of the fountain invites pedestrians to enter. All clean up is done by the immediate residents including raking the leaves, picking up litter, weeding the flower beds and providing dog owners with bags to clean up after their pets. Because of the constant stewardship of the residents, it is an inviting and safe place to be, and has become the neighborhood playground for many of the area’s young children.

The park is an attractive venue for passive and active recreation, from picnics and concerts to Tai Chi and pick-up ballgames. It is safe and features a welcoming playground for area children and families. For more than 20 years, there has been a Sunday volleyball game played by Vietnamese refugees and now, their children. The Allentown Association, a neighborhood advocacy group, has sponsored family events in the park as part of an annual Octoberfest. Children ride bikes and folks of all ages rollerblade on the street, without fear of vehicular traffic.

Days Park is attractive to people of all ages, ethnic backgrounds and abilities. Buffalo Public School #36, a bi-lingual Early Childhood Center, borders the park and enrolls more than 200 children, mostly Hispanic, who often use the park as an outdoor classroom.

History & Background

Although Days Park was a welcome greenspace from the 1870s to the Great Depression, by the 1980s it had turned into a dusty field, with few trees, many vacant and abandoned properties and high levels of crime. The horrible condition of the park compelled owners and tenants who lived on the park to seek the assistance of the police, housing inspectors and other agencies to eliminate crime, blighted housing and restore the greenspace.

Since 1987, the Days Park Block Club has raised funds by selling baked goods, plants and t-shirts, and procuring federal, city, county, and state funds and private donations. Flower gardens and trees were planted, new historic street lights were installed and a Victorian wrought-iron fountain again graces the center of the park. The restoration is ongoing, with new gardens at the east end of the park planted in the spring of 2003. The Days Park Block Club has partnered with the Allentown Association, the Kleinhans Community Association, the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy and Buffalo Public School #36 to make the park inviting again.

Days Park has also reclaimed its legacy as an Olmsted park, when it was discovered that Frederick Law Olmsted submitted designs for it in 1887. The "lost" Olmsted park had been found, through the volunteer efforts of a neighborhood resident.

Contact Info:

Mary Simpson: 716-881-6464
Debbie Grine: 716-882-1002

User Comments:

> Add your own comment about Days Park

06/07/03 Lynne Berg said:: A precious jewel of a park and a living tribute to the heart of this neighborhood. It's also a perfect illustration that it's the love and dedication of the local community that keeps our urban greenspaces alive.
06/08/03 mary simpson said:: Days Park is the greatest park in the world. I like to play baseball and soccer there and I like to watch the volleyball players. I also like to play in the leaves in the fall. David Saunders, age 10
06/08/03 Joy Testa said:: The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy is proud of the hard work and dedication members of the Days Park Block Club have brought to this lovely neighborhood. Days Park is part of the Olmsted Park and Parkway System, the first of its kind in the nation, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. We salute the efforts of Mary Simpson for integrating homeowners, community groups, a nearby school and businesses together for a better, cleaner, safer and thriving neighborhood. Joy Testa Cinquino Marketing Manager, Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy
06/10/03 Deborah Grine said:: Days Park is a wondeful place for kids of all ages. Brianna, age 2, loves to look at the fountain and chase the birds around the park. She also loves to look at the beautiful new gardens at the east end of the park.
06/10/03 julia hall said:: When we returned to Buffalo after a number of years in New York, we looked for a vibrant city neighborhood with green space, caring neighbors that reflected the true diversity of the city, and lots of urban activity for adults and children. Many people told us that this was not possible in a city like Buffalo where divisions are many, big parks get most of the attention, and neighborhoods "for kids" were best sought in the suburbs. Finding Days Park has proven them all wrong. In the best tradition of the urban green space, Days Park gives us a pastoral setting alive with activity that inspires the neighbors to treat it like the treasure it is. We could not be happier with the decision to move to Days Park and raise our children here. Block Club Members Forever, Julia Hall and Pat Mahoney
06/10/03 Brandon Chase said:: I have been a realtor in NYS for 2 1/2 years. Seeing many beautiful homes and being a luxury home specialist is a great benefit in searching for your own palace. I started in Real Estate in one of the most ballooned markets there is, Manhattan. Seeing what they are paying for a 1 bedroom condo in the village as compared to what I payed for my 1851 built home is mind blowing. My wife and I looked at about 85 houses and put 6 bids on seperate locations when we were shopping. None, of those houses were as a hidden gem as 42 Days Park. Call me lucky but we have a beautiful fountain right across the street from our house that runs while we our sleeping. It is just as soothing as the ocean. Two reasons that I feel blessed that we chose this house are that we live on a beautiful park and that we have one of the oldest, if not the oldest tree, in Allentown in our backyard. Take this for what it's worth, to whom it may concern, that I have not a single regret about our purchase and that I truly hope that more people will catch on.
06/13/03 Dolores Murphy said:: My parents and grandparents lived around the corner on Maryland Street (I was born there). When I was very young, my mother would take my sister and I on a "picnic" to Days Park. In the early 1950's my parents bought their first (and only) house on Days Park, paying the absurd amount of $4,000. The years of growing up on the park were filled with wonderous memories. As a little girl, I would peek through the windows of the house I now live in because I loved it so much. I have lived in this very house for 35 years, raising 3 children all of whom have enjoyed the adventuurous freedom of space Days Park has to offer. Playing baseball, skating or bike racing around the park were favorite summer time activities. Jumping in the piles of leaves as the trees relenquished them were especially fun in the fall, while building snow forts and having a snowball war was the winter entertainment. Many of the activities my own children relished, mirrored the ones when I was younger. Now after they have all "left the nest" I still appreciate and treasure the beautiful green space I have been fortunate enough to enjoy all these years.
06/15/03 Erin Russ said:: As a babysitter of 10 years for a family that lives on Days Park in Buffalo, there are two elements that I like about Days Park. First, It is a beautiful Park. It has a nice mixture of flowers and trees but also space for volleyball players and children at the local elementary school to run around. It is really nice just to walk out right outside the family's front door and play a game of baseball. The second aspect that I admire about Days Park is that its revitalization was a 100% grassroots movement. Neighbors were concerned about the neighborhood and bonded together to create the most beautiful park in the city. Not only did they make the park better for families, but they also uncovered the hidden Olmstead connection to the park. This neighborhood unity fueled by a desire to improve the park has helped make the neigborhood safer and more welcoming.
07/03/03 Judi Nichols said:: 34 years ago my husband and I began our married life living on Days Park. Although we have now migrated to Arizona, we "return to our roots" and thoroughly enjoy the atmosphere that is Days Park. We spend many happy hours walking the streets in the Parks neighborhood and admiring the beautiful architecture that is so much a part of Buffalo. My husband fondly remembers when the trees of the Park were so plentiful (as portrayed in the last two slides) and regales me with his childhood memories of growing up there. We thank you all for your hard work and dedication and ask that you never stop trying to save this wonderful little oasis of peace and tranquility.
01/15/04 Paul Paroff said:: Mary Simpson Saunders has provided the most remarkable act of public service in recent memory. Her dedication and hard work has made Days Park a tremendous success. Thank you!